Around 30 Killed By Bombs At Crowded Baghdad Political Rally

Around 30 people have been reported killed and dozens of others injured in a multi-bomb attack at a Baghdad campaign rally for a Shi’ite political party.

A Sunni militant group is suspected of carrying out the April 25 attack, which occurred just days before Iraqis vote next Wednesday, April 30, in parliamentary elections.

The explosions struck as some 10,000 people were gathered at the Industrial Stadium in eastern Baghdad for a rally of the political wing of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia group, which the Associated Press says is backed by Iran.

The AFP news agency has quoted a statement in which the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, an Al-Qaeda-linked Sunni militant group, appears to take responsibility for the attack. The group has been waging an insurgency in Anbar Province since the start of the year.

Iraq has faced increasing violence, including sectarian attacks, in the run-up to next week's elections, which will be the first national vote since the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces in late 2011.